Spool and tube applicable thereto



Jan. 9, 1940.

E. 1 ALLAN SPOOL A ND TUBE APPLICABLE THERETO Filed Dec. 14. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l fili/11111.

Filed Dec. 14, 1936 '2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT yOFFICE;

. 2,186,133 SPOOL AND TUBE APPLICABLE THRETO Edward T. Allan, Cincinnati, Ohio Application December 14, 1936, Serial No. 115,749

` 16 claims. (o1. 24e-#121) I have exemplified my invention as employed in single-head spoolsarranged to have comparatively large quantitiesof thread wound thereon, used principally in power sewing machines, and

;. for wrapping. The term thread as. used includes.

string. It is, of course, applicable in other rela.- tions. i

Single head spools have heretofore been usually being broken and stripped from the tubes there-k of due to the pressure of the thread wound on the spool.

" It is the object of my` invention to provide a new and improved spool free of the objections stated; further, to provide a new and improved spool in which the tube and the head are separable; further, to lso connect the head and the tube that tubes of'different lengths may be associated with a head; further, to provide new and improved spools in which the tubes and the heads are interchangeable; further, to provide a tube, the longitudinal margins of the body of which are arranged in lapping relation in such manner that the tube maybe enlarged-in crosssectional dimension and, further, to provide the coacting margins of said tubing with complemental slots and laterally acting shoulders to permit vlapping of said margins and to restrict contraction of the tube in cross-sectional dimensions to a predetermined minimum.

It is rthe object of my invention, further, to

provide a tube with releasable connecting means coacting'with the wall of a central hole in the head of the spool whereby to releasably connect the tube and the'head in manner to resist outward endwise release between the head and the tube and to permit 'assembling and disassembling between the tube and the head in the opposite direction; further, to provide the tube of the spool with means along the length thereof for holding the thread in position lengthwise of the tube; and, further, to provide spools which areA light, strong and durable, and which occupyflittle space, and the 'parts whereof may be separated fornes'ting the same or a portion thereof for storage and shipment. My invention` consists in novel means for accomplishing `the respective objects stated; and, further, in the'novel parts and the novel struc- 5 tures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings: n l Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a winding machine, the horizontal spindle whereof hasl 10V a spool embodying my invention mounted thereon', the sp'oolbeing partly wound, and the size of the fully wound spool being indicated in dotted lines.v f

Fig. 2 is a vlongitudinal section of the same,"15 taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, partly broken away, and with the thread removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a spool 'embodying my invention. v

Fig. 4 is aflongitudinal section vof the same, 20y

taken on the line '4--4 of Fig. 3, .and partly broken away.'

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an exempliying blank, out of which the tube is formed, partly broken away. y 25 Fig. 6A is a similar View of a modication of the same, partly broken away.

^ Fig. '7 is across-section of the spool and winding spindle, taken von the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and

partly 'broken away. 30

`Fig.'8 is a similar cross-section of a modificationl of thejoint in the tube, partly broken away.

Fig. 9`is 'a similar'cross-section of a further modication of the joint in the, tube, partly broken away. 352

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the Winding spindle, partly broken away, and having the tube of my improved spool in position thereon.

Fig. 11 is a side elevationof the same, with the head ofthe Aspool in place, and showing the be- 40 ginning portion of the thread being Wound abou the spool, and partly broken away. 'Fig. 12 is asimilar view.' partly broken away, and showing additional windings of the thread on the spool;I and" 4d Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing a partially used spool of thread embodying my improved device and exemplifyng its use ywith a sewing machine,l inwhch the spool is used in upright position. l 50,

My improvedidevice is shown as formed out of `a thin, preferably resilient sheet, preferably of metal, of which ternepate or tin coated sheet iron; or non-corrosive metal, of a thickness -of 'approximately 010 to' .015 inch-may be cited as @l an example, as preferable for use in constructing the spools herein shown and described, although it will be understood that the material, its size, thickness and resilience may be changed to make it best adaptable for the use to which the bottoms of the slots for limiting contraction` in cross-sectional direction of the tube to the minimum diameter desired. This opposite longitudinal margin of the blank is preferably con,- tinuous.

vIf desired, both longitudinal margins may be provided with slots 25, as shown in Fig. 6, the end walls of the slots in one margin'being received between the end walls of the slots in the other margin in forming the blank into a tube.

The blank is bent into substantially cylindrical form, the margin 26 being received in the slots 22. The portions 2l, 28 of the blank between the slots form tongues which are alternately located at opposite sides of the opposite longitudinal margin of the blank, to form a lap joint 23 for the tube extending lengthwise of the tube. Pressure perpendicular to the joint is exerted on the joint for arranging the joint as nearly as possible in the plane of the cylinder of the tube, whereby inwardly extending pockets 3| and outwardly extending pockets 32 are formed in the margins 26 of the tube for receiving the tongues 2l, 23, or the pockets may be formed in the blank or strip prior to bending the tube, as may be desired. The formation of this tube may be accomplished by suitable means.

The tube is preferably so formed that the outer surface thereof is cylindrical, as exemplied in Fig. 7. If desired, the inner surface of the tube may be made ilush, as shown in Fig. 8, depending on the use to which the tube may be put, or, if desired, the joint may be so formed that the contacting surfaces of the laps in the joint of the tube may be in the median plane of the cylinder of the tube, as exemplied in Fig. 9, as may be desired.

One end of the tube is provided with a radially outwardly extending shoulder extending about the tube, exemplied as an annular ange 34, shown outwardly tapering` or frusto-conioal.

The head may be formed of material similar to that of the tube. It is exemplified as tapering outwardly, radially and lengthwise, with relation to the tube, and is shown of frusto-conical form, and its inclination may be such as is desired. It is provided with a central hole 4|, the wall 42 of which is received about the tube and forms a shoulder'which coacts with the shoulder 34 on the tube to prevent endwise separation between the tube and the head in a given direction lengthwise of the tube to assemble the spool.

The head is preferably provided with an annular shoulder, shown formed as a flange 43, which extends about the outer edge of the head and forms a trough 44 or gutter.

The inner wall of the trough is preferably formed by a ange 45 extending lengthwise of the spool at an angle to the frusto-conical surface of the head. The angle between said frustoconical surface and the flange 45 usually denes the diameter of the body of thread on the spool. 'Ihe ange 43 is bent reversely at the outer edge of the ilange 45. These flanges and trough strengthen the head.

The tube is preferably provided with radially outwardly extending protuberances 46 which form inner shoulders adjacent to its ilanged end, but spaced from the flange 34 by a space 41, in which the wall 42 of the head of the spool is received when the tube and head are in connected relation. The protuberances 46 form inner shoulders and the flange 34- of the anged end forms an outer shoulder, the space 41 being located between said inner shoulders and said outer shoulder and has the wall 42 of the central hole 4| in the head located as a shoulder therein. The tube is suiiciently resilient to permit the wall 42 to be snapped over the shoulders or protuberances 46 when assembling the tube and the head by lengthwise movement between the tube and the head, the outer end ilange or shoulder 34 of the tube and the wall 42 of the hole 4| arresting lengthwise movement between the tube and the head in one direction. Opposite lengthwise movement between the tube and the head is permitted so that there may be passage endwise of the tube between the inner shoulders or protuberances 46 and the wall 42 of the hole in the head in opposite direction,for separation between the tube and the head when disassembling the parts of the spool.

The end walls of the slots 22 and the end walls of the pockets 3| located at the outside of the tube, form shoulders for the inner layers of the thread 48 when the thread is being wound upon the spool, so as to arrest slippage of the inner layers of the thread lengthwise of the spool when the thread is being wound upon the spool, and the spool may be provided with outwardly extending protuberances 49 for aiding in arresting slippage of the inner layers of the thread lengthwise of the spool. The protuberances may be impressed in the material. rI'hese latter protuberances may extend throughout a desirable portion of the length of the tube, beingespecially useful near the head end of the same, and they may be arranged at desirable distances apart and about the tube.

When the blank or strip is formed into a tube by lapping its opposite margins, it is preferably so formed that there isa slight space 50 between its coacting shoulders 23, 24, in order that the tube may be slightly contracted to bring said shoulders into coaction, and the tube is preferably yieldable cross-sectionally throughout its length, so as to contract or distend the same cross-sectionally, and such contraction or distending may take place selectively at the respective ends of the tube to aid in assembling the tube and its head.

The wall 42 of the head is also preferably slightly resilient so as to be yieldable to permit it to be slipped over the protuberances in the tube, and when slipped over the protuberances 43, this wall is located and held rmly between said last-named protuberances and the llange 34, that is, between the inner passable shoulders 46 and the outer impassable shoulder 34 at the inner end of the tube.

While such Wall 42 and the shoulders or protuberances 46 are being moved endwise to pass each other in assembling the same, the flanged V endwof the tube'is momentaril-yricompressed-to cause contact between. the lateral shoulders 23,' 24 next adjacent thereto 'Y as fulcrumsffand. .to contract the-flanged end of thetubel into. a crosssectional dimension smaller than the cross-seo# tional dimension ofthe wall ,d2 .to permit said wall andthe inner shoulders or protuberances 46' ping margins of the tube shifting outwardly and j mome-ntarily enlarging the spaceslibetween the shoulders 23, 2li at the outer end of thetube, the said margins teetering 'upon'l the innermostlateralshoulders 23, 2li as fulcrums.

r`The, tube and headresile partially to 'normal relation when such' assembly" has'been accomplished, permitted by the resiliency of the material out of which the tube and-preferably the head are formed. When winding -ofthe thread' upon the tube is begunf'the outer'l end of the tuberis contracted, and its 'inner `end expanded by teeter ing on said fulcrums to cause clamping between the inner end of the .tube and the wall or" the hole in thehead to' lock'thetube'and head together rotatively,V aided by theffrictional contact of the thread therewith. f f 'Illustrating the use vof ymy improved spool, I haveshown the same in connection with a portion of a suitablewinding machineinligs. l, 2, 7, 10, 11 and l2, and in connection with a suitable sewing machine in Fig. 13.`

When the spool is being wound placed horizontal, and when vthe wound spool is handled or used itis usually placed vertical.

The yexempliiied winding machine includes a suitable frame 55, in which asuitable winding spindle 5t is journaled. ySuitable means, not shown are providedfor rotating the winding spindle and also for, moving the same endwise to control the locus of the spool ywith relation to the range of movement of the thread arm of the winding machine, Such a usual thread arm is shown at 51 and is provided with a thread slot 58,

lthrough which the thread 48 ,beingwound is guided. The threadarm is oscillated tomove its thread end in opposite directions lengthwise of thespool during rotation of the spool, .therebyl its spool is gradually moved endwise by suitable mechanism, not shown, so that the range or locus of laying of the thread,. as the diameter of the body ofthe thread increases, continues to extend progressively to equalextent fro-mportions nearer the basev of the conical lhead, in orderto form the outer end of the winding truste-conical, similar to the frusto-conicalform of the head of the spool. l The speed of rotation of the spindle may de'- crease as the diameter of the spool increases, controlledby suitable means in the winding machine, not herein shown, orthe tension of the thread may be Varied, .to vinsure uniform laying of the thread.'I

*Considerable tension is applied to' the thread as the spool is being wound, and greaty pressure is exerted upon the head of the spool'by the thread,

tending to move the head outwardly, `but this out l it is usually I The endof the threadto-be wound aboutfTth'e spoolis in practicelooped, as shown at 59 in Fig: 11, about the-.head end of the tube, and the winding machine is set in operatonfoiwinding ;the thread uponthe spool. The iirst windings of the thread uponthe spool contract' the tube crosssectionallyforicoaction between the laterally pre# sented shoulders 23, 24,v these 'shoulders-limiting x such contraction to the denite diameter desired,

itv being understood that the thread is wound under considerable tension. j Y

`The outer periphery'of the spindle is polygonaly vin cross-section,v being vshown as of hexagon'form having corners or angles 68, which are preferably slightly rounded` to conform to the inner cross,- sectional contour of thefspool.

In my improved device the base ends 28` of the tongues 23 (Fig. 7) and the marginal edges 'of the inwardly extending portions of the margin 26y (Fig. 4) form shoulders yextending lengthwise ,of the tube at the inside of the tube whichare con tacted, by one of the shoulders Bil extending lengthwise on the spindle and formed by the'crosssectional form ofthe spindle. This forms' a positive driving connection between theispindleand the spool. Infthe forms shown in Figs. 8 and 9 frictional contact betweenk the spool and "the spindle, accentuatedvby the clamping force of the thread in contracting the tube about the spindle may form the driving connection between :the spindle and the spool. n 4 y -4 1 IA collar 65 is located about the spindle-.and is held tothe spindle in suitable position lengthwise of the lspindle to accommodate thelength of the spool being wound. It is shown clamped insuitable position'to the spindle by a set screw 66.

' Oneend .of this collar is preferably of frustoconical form for providing a locating face 5l. coacting with the inner face of the vfrusto-conical head of the spool. This collar has `arabloet 58 at its innerend adjacent to the spindle for accomthe threadat said end.

The body 'of the thread when wound on the spool is usually of a diameter `corresponding to an outer end portion of the frustoconicalhead, depending on the length and thickness ofthe kthread wound on the spool, the outerdiameter of the body of wound thread on the spool being preferably within the cylindrical plane ofv Vthe groove 44. l c. During use ofthethread, for yinstancef:on a

power sewing machine, the spool iis. usually lofcated upon an upright stem llextending from a frame l0 of the sewing machine, or suitably located near the sewing machine about a similar stem ona usual thread stand. v,The thread is usually unwound Vendwise of the spool, `being guided beyondthe iree end of the spool. jIt sometimes happens during such use, that the thread willbecome slack adjacent tothe spool l,

and form a depending loop` 1|. This loop inmy improved device is lodged in the gutter 44, and

, is thereby prevented jfrom droppingi'below the lower end-of the spool.` In older constructions,

in the absence of Vmy improved device,qsuc'h loops of thread have lodged under the spool," the thread also becomingfwound around the stein over which the spool is placed,With-t he result that when tension was againappliedtoethe ofi thread, that the thread either became torn or the spool was moved endwise off of the stem, resulting in loss and damage, which are prevented by my improved device.

In operation, tubes of suitable lengths as, for instance, three inches, four inches', ve inches, etc., are selected for the particular job of winding, depending on the diameter of the thread and the lengths of thread to be wound upon the spool. The .selected tube is placed over the winding spindle, as in Fig. l0, and the head is slipped endwise about the spindle and the tube and pressed endwise with relation to the tube, the iiange of which is seated in the rabbet 68 of the collar t5, as shown in Fig. 2. .Such endwise pressure of the head moves the wall 4T. of the central hole in the head beyond the inner shoulders or'protuberances 46. The resilience of the tube and of such wall permits this to be done for lodging said Awall between said inner shoulders or proturberances 46 and the outer shoulder or ange 34, and thereby assembles the tube and its head.

The head end of the tube will be slightly coni tracted in diameter, and thishead end may also flex into the spaces formed by the flat porti-ons of the hexagon spindle, to permit the passage of the wall d2 past the protuberances it and the inner shoulders or protuberances i6 on the tube during such contraction in diameter. The flanged end of the tube may also be flexed by contact of the lateral shoulders 23, 2li, proximate v to the flange, so as to act as fulcrums upon which the outer end of the tube will be momentarily flexed to increase its cross-sectional diameter, the tube exing back partially upon positioning of the wall 42 between the inner shoulders or proturberances 46 and the outer shoulder or flange 34, as herenbefore explained. The Selected tube and the base may also be assembled before the same are placed on the spindle.

When the winding of the thread is begun, the end of the thread is looped about the head end of the tube of the spool, as shown at 59 in Fig. 11, the thread being wound in coarse spirals about the tube, as exemplified in Fig. 11. The inner layers of the thread are held endWis-e Aof the tube by shoulders 12, 73, respectively formed by the outer ends of the tongues and the end Walls of the outer pockets, and thefprotuberances 49, the outer layers being held endwise of the tube by contact with preceding spirals of the thread, succeeding spirals being arranged indifferent angular relations to each other about the spool.

The direction of rotation of the spindle during winding is exemplied by the arrow i4 in Figs. 1, 7, l1 and 12,'one of the Shoulders El@ of the spindle (Fig. '7) contacting shoulders 28 at the bases of the inwardly extending tongues 28 and the marginal edges of the inwardly extending portions of the margin 26 in the tube for forming positive driving connection between the spindle and the spool. The spool is preferably wound during rotation of the spindle clockwise when viewed from the outer end of the spool thereon.

During use of the thread, for instance', in a power sewing machine, the thread is unwound in opposite direction to its direction of winding, With the result that the inner layers of the thread readily release from the shoulders '12, T3, which they may have contacted during the winding of the same. In unwinding the thread the inner layers of the threadare prevented from being caught under the tongues and the corners ofv the outer ends of the walls of the slots.

Various tubes of vdifferent lengths may be assembled with any of the heads, so that a minimum number of tubes of respectively different lengths, depending on the demand for such respective different lengths, and aminimum number of heads for all of said lengths, may be carried in stock by the manufacturer winding the thread, resulting in great economy.

Spools, according to my invention, employ material of minimum thickness, are light in weight, and occupy littlespace, and the wound spools of thread employing by improved spools occupy a minimum of space and are of minimum weight, thereby saving in space and weight in storage and shipment without reduction in lengths or thicknesses of threads Ion the respective spools. This results in material economy, especially when it is considered that when employing previous constructions of spools a spool having one pound in weight of thread of a given length thereon, as a four inch spool, usually weighed between two and a half and three ounces, whereas in my improved device the corresponding spool of thread weighs only one ounce. My improved device is further economical, in that it requires smaller packages for enclosing the Same, and in that the same is less bulky for shipment, storage and use, and in that the spool is stronger and resists endwise pressure of the thread thereon to substantially greater extent than spools heretofore in general use.

The wood, paper or bre spools heretofore in general use, on account of their absorption of moisture, have been subject to mildew which was communicated to the thread wound thereon, resulting in greatv loss, the absorption of moisture also rendering the spools soft or mushy, both before and after being Wound, resulting in ready crushing and breakage of the spools, all avoided in my improved device.

My improved device further presents an inner surface E5 at the end of the spool on which suitable indicia, denoting size, quality and other characteristics of the thread thereon, and advertising matter, may be readily placed and be of suicient size to be readily read, and theprotruding end 'I8 of the spool beyond the thread may also be employed for placing suitable indiciav thereon.

In my improved device, further, the tubes may if desired be nested one within the other, as by momentarily spreading the tubes, and the heads may also be nested one within the other, or stacked, for saving space in storage and in shipment, resulting in great economy when compared with spools as heretofore made.

My improved form of tubing also permits the lapping margins of the joints to be shifted outwardly with relation to each other for accomznodating the tubing to the different diameters of different articles to be placed therein, as for instance mandrels of different diameters, While at the same time contraction of the tube beyond a desired minimum diameter during maintenance of lapped relation of its margins is limited by coaction between the shoulders lateral of the respective lapping margins of the tube.

The resilient tube also continuously acts ex'- pansively upon the material as the body of thread. located about the same.

The parts of my improved tube may be readily disassembled and reassembled for use and after frs Auselnay be nested and packed in compact 'alternate iones of said pockets,` saidbends and the rangement for reshipment and reuse.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A single head take-apart spool comprising a tube and a head respectively .having wound ina-- terial engaging portions thereon coacting to hold the wound material cn the spool, said tube and said head being assembled and separable by end- Wisemovements between said tube and said head in manner that said wound material engaging portions are moved past one another in opposite directionslengthwise of said tube, and said tube and said head provided with normally coacting permanent relatively releasable shoulders extending transversely to ,the axis of said ktube and coacting and relatively impassable upon assembling of said tube and said headby relative longitudinal movement therebetween in one of vsaid directions and for disassembling thereof as" `a separate tube and a separate head by relative longitudinal movement therebetween inthe opposite of said directions.

2. A' single head take-apart spool comprising a tube having a material engaging portion for wound material and inner and outer longitudinally 'arranged shoulders at one of its ends and a head having a hole in which said tube is located'with the wall of said hole forming an intermediate shoulder normally located between said first-named shoulders, there being resilient radial yielding between said intermediate shoulder and said inner shoulder to locate said intermediate shoulder by endwise passage along said material engaging portion endwise von'said tube past said inner shoulder upon said outer shoulder to definitely relatively locate said head in outward direction on said tube, with said intermediate shoulder coacting releasably with said outer shoulder for endwise releasing movement alternately at the respective sides of said Opposite one of said margins, with alternate ones of said tongues located at opposite sides of said opposite one of said margins in alternate ones of said lpockets, and said bends and the respective walls of said slots coacting as shoulders to hold said.

respective margins in longitudinally extending relation. I

4. A tube having longitudinally extending lapping margins including a margin having tongues formed by narrow slots in said margin, in which slots the opposite one of said margins is located, said slots being substantially equal in width to the thickness of 'said opposite one of said Inar-` 'gins, said opposite one of said margins having bends therein lengthwise of said tube and extending alternately in opposite vdirections transverse to said opposite one of said margins to iorrnpockets alternately at the respective sides of said opposite one of said margins, with alternate ones of said tongues located at opposite sides oi said opposite one of said -margins in respectvewallsof said slots coacting as shoulders to hold. said respective margins in longitudinally extending relation, and the `said margins being relatively' shiftable in their planes in sepment 4of the tube and provided with coacting shoulders to limit relative shifting in their planes between fsaid margins in opposite directions to limit, cross-sectional contraction of the tube.

5;;A single head spool comprising a tube anda thread retaining head, said head provided with an opening in which one end of said tube is located, said tube :having a material winding portion .and said headhaving a material winding end presented toward `said material winding portion, arranged for having .the material wound on said material winding portion 4and against said material winding end, said tube formed out of resilientsheet material the longitudinally extending` margins of which are lapped along said ma- `terial winding portion and laterally shiftable after completion `of 4said tube relatively to said material'windingend and provided with coacting lateral shoulders adjacent to the head end ofsaid tube which. act as fulcrums on which the laps `of said margins are tilted by radial com- .arating directions for cross-sectional enlarge.

pression of the outer endl of said tube to contract the outer;end of said tube at one side of said Ifulcrums whereby to expand said head end 'of said vtube at the other side of said fulcrumsto clamp' said head end of said tube and said head together. y

6. A singley head spool `comprising aftube and a thread retaining head, said head provided with an opening in which onev end of said tube is located, said tube having a material winding portion and said head having a material winding end presented toward said material winding portion, arranged for having the material wound on said material'winding portion `having the Inaterial lwound thereon against said material winding end,t`said tube formed' outof resilient sheet material'f the longitudinally extending margins of which are lapped and laterally shiftable after formation of said-tube'and'fprovided with coacting. lateral shoulders adjacent to 'the head end of said tube which act as fulcrurns, the head end of said tube provided with aninner protuberance and an outer protuberance having a space therebetween longitudinal of saidf tube 4at one side of said fulcrums', said head and said tube arranged to be assembled Iby lengthwise -movement between saidhead and Said tube ywith said material l Ywinding portion and said material winding end having suchlengthwise movement onealong the other past said fulcrurns toward said protuberances whilst said tube is in 'said' opening whereby to cause teetering of saidv margins on said fulcrunis during passage between said inner protuberance and said wall to locate said wall in ysaid space, said outer protuberance arresting such assembling movement, andsaid margins provided with coacting shoulders at the other side of said ful'crunis to limit contraction of the tube at said other side of said fulcrums in order to maintainsaid wall in said space.

'7. A single head spool comprising a tube having a material winding portion extending lengthwise thereof on its outer periphery and a head having a material winding end presented toward said material winding portion, said head provided with an opening, said tube and said head being relatively resilient radially of theaxis of said tube, said head yand. said tube arranged for relative movement therebetween lengthwise of said tube whereby there is movement between said material supporting portion and said material winding end along said material winding portion, the head end of said tube provided with a shoulder to arrest such longitudinal movement between said tube and said head in onedirection to hold said tube and said head together, said tube provided with a protuberance at its head end spaced inwardly from said shoulder longitudinally of said tube, the wall of said opening arranged to be located in the space between said protuberance and said shoulder by such movement in the same direction between said tube and said wall, said protuberance and said wall being relatively radially yieldable for passage between said wall and said protuberance due to resilient yielding between said protuberance and said wall.

8. A take-apart single head spoolfcomprising a completed tube and a completed head, said Ahead provided with an opening in which one end of said tube is located, said tube formed of resilient sheet material the longitudinally extending margins of which are lapped and relatively laterally yieldable in the completed tube, said margins provided with coacting shoulders to limit contraction of said tube,the head end of said tube provided with a shoulder coacting with said head beyond one end of said coacting shoulders to arrest movement between said tube lengthwise of said tube and said head in` oney direction to hold said tube and said head together, and said tube and said head constructed to have movement betweenthem lengthwise of said head in the opposite direction for separation between said tube and said head, whereby the completed tube is releasably associated with the completed head to form the spool.

9. A single yhead spool for use in upright position, the head'whereof is provided with a thread receiving gutter at its outer portion extending radially outward from the head to receive thread loosely hanging from said spool when in upright position, the inner wall of said gutter extending lengthwise of the axis of said spool and substantially deiining the diameter of the body of thread Wound on said spool.

l0. An endwise partable single head spool comprising a tube and a head for having material wound. about said tube with outward end pressure against said head, said tube and said head provided with means to resist said outward end pressure for relatively locating said tube and said head, said means being oppositely separable to constitute said head and said tube releasable and separable with relation to each other in endwise direction opposite to the direction of said outward end pressure when said spool is devoid of material. v

il. An endwise partable spool comprising a tube having a material winding portion and a head about said tube at the end of said material winding portion for having the material wound thereagainst, said material exerting outward end pressure against said head when the material is wound on said spool, said tube and said head provided with means to resist said outward end pressure for relatively locating said tube and said head, said means being oppositely separable to constitute said head releasable from said tube by endwise movement of said head along said material winding portion of said spool.

12. An endwise take-apart single head spool comprising a completed tube normally expansible in cross-section and having a material supporting portion and a head having a material supporting end and a hole for said tube, endwise holding means between one end of said tube and said head to hold said tube and said head toi gether at said one end against pressure of a body of material en said material supporting portion bearing against said material supporting end, and said head movable along said material supporting portion during absence of said material for assembling and disassembling said spool.

13. In a single head take-apart spool, the combination of a tube and a frusto-conical head having a central hole, said tube having an outer annular flange and an inner radially outwardly extending shoulder spaced inwardly from said iiange to form a longitudinal space therebetween on said tube, said head and said tube relatively movable lengthwise of said tube in both endwise directions whereby passage between said innerv shoulder and the wall of said hole in both said directions takes place to locate said wall in said longitudinal space and to remove said wall therefrom for respectively assembling and disassembling the spool, and said wall coacting with said flange to limit longitudinal movement in one oi said directions lengthwise of said tube between said tube and said head to releasably asvmovable lengthwise of said tube in both endwise directions whereby passage between said inner shoulder and the wall of said hole in both said directions takes place by such teetering to locate said wall in said longitudinal space and to remove said wall therefrom for respectively assembling and disassembling the spool, and said wall coacting with said ilange to limit longitudinal movement in one of said directions lengthwise of said tube between said tube and said head to assemble the spool.

15. In a single head take-apart spool, the com bination of a tube having lapping longitudinal margins provided with coacting lateral shoulders on which said margins are arranged to be teetered, and a frusto-conical head having a central hole whose wall is resilient, said tube having a permanent outer annular end iiange to form an outer end Shoulder, said tube having an inner radially outwardly extending shoulder radially flexible and spaced inwardly from said flange to form a longitudinal space on said tube between said last-named shoulders, said head and said tube relatively movable lengthwise of said tube in both endwise directions whereby passage between said inner shoulder and said wall in both said directions takes place upon yielding ef such resilient wall and such teetering of said longitudinal margins on said lateral shoulders to locate said wall in said longitudinal space and to remove vsaid wall therefrom for respectively assembling and disassembling the spool, and said wall coacting with said ilange to limit longitudinal movement in one of said directions lengthwise of said tube between said tube and said head to assemble the spool.

16. A- single head take-apart spool comprising a tube having longitudinally arranged inner and outer shoulders at one of its ends and a head having 'a central hole in which said tube is normally' located, the wall of said hole normally forming an intermediate shoulder'longitudinally between said rst-named shoulders, said tube -and said head being relatively longitudinally shoulder and said yintermediate shoulder relatively passable yfor assembling and disassembling f the spool, and said intermediate shoulder and said outer shoulder relatively mpassable in assembling direction for releasably holding said tube and said head in assembledI relation.

'EDWARD T. ALLAN.v 

